Chinese Woman Breaks Record

Chen Xiaomin of China broke the world record for women’s 138 3/4-pound weightlifting by lifting 248 pounds in the snatch today at Sydney.

Chen tied the record of 242 1/2 pounds by Lei Li of China in May 1999 with the second of her three lifts. She then broke the record with her third lift.

Soraya Jimenez pulled off a huge upset Monday, winning the 127 1/2-pound women’s weightlifting gold medal for Mexico on her final lift.

Ri Song Hui of North Korea was the prohibitive favorite, especially with world power China sitting out the weight. Ri led from her first lift of the night, and seemed confident of winning after lifting 270 pounds in the clean and jerk to take a 5 1/2 pound lead.

But Jimenez, her face strained with concentration at the very moment her fans were at their loudest, raised 281 pounds above her head. It was just what she needed to overtake Ri for the gold.

Mexico had never won a medal in the sport. Jimenez was ranked fourth in the world before the Games.